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When disruption is normalized: What about the kids who want to learn?
Tolerating disruptive, dangerous students is unfair to their classmates and teachers.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 22 min read


Why teachers quit: 'It was the wild West'
Weak administrators, out-of-control students and disengaged parents are driving teachers to quit.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 182 min read


Why can't kids behave? Parents undermine discipline, say teachers
Teachers complain that parents don't teach their kids to behave, and principals don't support teachers who try to maintain order.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 93 min read


While teachers worry about discipline, ed researchers focus on 'equity'
As teachers try to get students to "sit down, focus and learn," researchers priorities are equity, justice and identity.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 30, 20252 min read


Students learn more, fight less after smartphone bans
Bell-to-bell smartphone bans led to slightly higher test scores and attendance, says a new study.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 23, 20252 min read


At calm, focused schools, scores are high, but so is suspension rate
Students -- including those with disabilities -- are learning at Indiana schools that stress structure and good behavior. But suspension rates are high for students with disabilities.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 6, 20253 min read


Why special-ed teachers quit: High stress, high risk, low pay
How can districts hire and retain high-quality special-ed teachers?

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 30, 20252 min read


'Kids aren't phone zombies now'
"Kids aren't phone zombies now," says teacher whose school banned smartphones.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 14, 20252 min read


NOLA's post-Katrina reforms are working
New Orleans schools have improved dramatically since Katrina forced radical changes 20 years ago. That means going from "F" to "C."

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 29, 20253 min read


Unsafe spaces: Throw rocks at the teacher, get 'Tiger tokens'
A student who threw rocks was rewarded when he stopped, says teacher. There were no consequences for him or "Tiger Tokens" for students whose learning was disrupted.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 25, 20253 min read


Mystery of the missing middle-schoolers
Seeking stronger academics and less disruption, parents are choosing private schooling and homeschooling over public middle schools.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 25, 20251 min read


Teachers back tougher discipline, violent students out of classrooms
Half of Colorado teachers say they've been injured by a student. A report calls for creating alternative spaces for disruptive and violent students.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 24, 20252 min read


To boost achievement, stop doing stupid things
The first step in improving education is to stop doing stupid things.

Joanne Jacobs
May 27, 20253 min read


Chaos: Is ADHD an excuse for punching classmate and a teacher?
Special-ed rules make it hard to suspend students for fighting, if parents know their rights.

Joanne Jacobs
May 22, 20253 min read


Suspension rates vary: Is it racism, poverty or ... ?
Black students are suspended more than whites, but the disparities seem linked to behavior and family poverty rather than racism.

Joanne Jacobs
May 20, 20252 min read


Surprise! It's not OK to punch the teacher or threaten to blow up the school
Attacking a school staffer or making a bomb threat will no longer be treated as a minor offense in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Joanne Jacobs
May 19, 20252 min read


'Disparate impact' is out: Base discipline on behavior, not race, says Trump order
Schools should discipline students who misbehave without regard to their race, says Trump's new executive order.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 25, 20252 min read


Houston's comeback: Structure, direct instruction are paying off
Students are learning more at Houston schools that stress teacher-guided classrooms, structure and order.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 21, 20252 min read


Don't blame parents for things they can't control
Parents can send children to school rested and ready to learn, but schools have to do their part too.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 3, 20252 min read


Student behavior is 'massively' better with no-phones policy
Students behave better and learn more when smartphones are banned.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 13, 20251 min read
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